Stencilled stamping device having fluid flow valve control

ABSTRACT

A stamping device comprising a body having a web provided with a valve opening therethrough. A valve member is disposed in the opening and engages the web for closing the opening. A housing is secured to the body and forms an extension of the web. A stencil is disposed over a fluid reservoir pad in the housing.

United States Patent Gilbert Schwartzman 20 Wilmot Circle, Scarsdale, N.Y. 10583 [21] App]. No. 778,956

[22] Filed Nov. 26, 1968 [45] Patented Mar. 16, 1971 [72] Inventor [5 4] STENCILLED STAMPING DEVICE HAVING FLUID FLOW VALVE CONTROL 3 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs. {52] US. Cl. 101/125, 101/327, 401/206 [51] Int. Cl B411 27/26, 841k 1/52 [50] FieldofSearch Q. 101/125, 327; 401/206 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,600,413 6/1952 Mason et a1. 101/125 2,667,119 1/1954 Thomas 101/125 2,919,642 l/1960 Mooney 101/125 3,146,703 9/1964 Mason et a1. 101/125 3,169,267 2/1965 Luedtke 401/206 3,203,026 8/1965 Schwartzman 401/206 3,337,900 8/1967 Schwartzman 401/206 3,356,441 12/1967 Schwartzman 401/206 3,358,598 12/1967 Middleton.... 101/415.1X 3,468,611 9/1969 Ward 401/206X Primary Examiner-Robert E. Pulfrey Assistant ExaminerClifford D. Crowder Att0rney Kenneth S. Goldfarb ABSTRACT: A stamping device comprising a body having a.

web provided with a valve opening therethrough. A valve member is disposed in the opening and engages the web for closing the opening. A housing is secured to the body and forms an extension of the web. A stencil is disposed over a fluid reservoir pad in the housing.

STENCILLEI) STAMPING DEVICE HAVING FLUID FLOW VALVE CONTRGL This invention relates to a stamping device and has for an object the provision of means for controlling flow of 'ink or other stamping fluid from a container such as a squeeze container or bottle to a stencil sheet in a manner to insure optimum reproduction of the stencilled material, and in which the stencil sheet is readily replaceable, and is copending with the application Ser. No. 633,889, filed Apr. 26, 1967 for STAMPING DEVICE, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,444,808.

Briefly, the concept of this invention contemplates a stamping device comprising a container having a neck portion. A body is received in the neck portion and has a web provided with a valve opening therethrough. A valve member is disposed in the opening and is engageable with the web for closing the opening. A housing is secured to the body and has a base which forms an extension of theweb. A fabric cover is secured to the housing and disposed on a fluid reservoir pad fixed within the housing. A stencil sheet is disposed over the cover and in one embodiment of the invention a cap having an opening therethrough is secured to the container with the cover at least under slight compression so that at least a portion of the stencil protrudes beyond the cap.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a normally closed valve structure for the stamping device including resilient means on both sides of the valve seat for urging the valve closed thus insuring optimum control and safe guard against spillage.

Another object of the invention resides in the use of a valve member for an applicator which is movably mounted with respect to the valve seat yet which is locked against accidental displacement from the applicator.

Still another object of the invention resides in the use of wick means in combination with a fluid reservoir pad in the stamping device for delivering a limited quantity of stamping fluid to a stencil sheet secured to the pad.

Still further objects of this invention reside in the provision of a stamping device especially adapted for dating documents, for use by postal officials, for indicating payment or receipt of bills, invoices or like documents, which is exceedingly easy to use, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is substantially foolproof.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of this invention, which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by this stamping device, preferred embodiments of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

FIG. I is a vertical sectional view of a stamping device constructed in accordance with the concepts of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view taken along the plane of line 2-2 in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view in an enlarged scale of the housing for the pad looking along the plane of line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the stamping device in use in an overturned position and with the valve in an open position;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the stamping device in use and with the valve in an open position.

FIG. 6 is a vertical sectional view of another embodiment of the invention illustrating the construction of the housing and a cover therefor;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view of the stamping device of FIG. 6 taken along the plane of line 7-7 in FIG. 6, parts being broken away to show other parts in detail;

FIG. 8 is a sectional detail view illustrating a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the stamping device of FIG. 8 including a protective cap;

FIG. I0 is a top plan view of another modified form of the invention; and,

FIG. II is a vertical sectional view of the device shown in FIG. 10 taken along plane ofline 11-11 in FIG. 10.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings, particularly with reference to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 15, wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 20 is used to generally designate a stamping device according to the present invention. The stamping device 20 includes three main parts; a squeeze container 22, an applicator 24, and a housing 26.

The squeeze container 22 is made from polyethylene, polyurethane or other similar synthetic plastic material and may be of any suitable shape and is provided with a neck 28. The container is adapted to be filled with a stamping fluid such as conventional stencil ink.

The applicator 24 is adapted to be mounted in the container 22 and includes a body 30 of generally cylindrical shape which projects into the neck 28. Integrally formed with the body 30 is a web 32 having a tapered opening 34 therein which opening is larger at the top than its bottom. Housing 26 is integrally formed with the web 32 and a web extension 33 having a peripheral flange 36 extending rectangularly thereabout defines the housing 26. Disposed over web 32 is a thin fabric layer 38 fabricated from a material such as woven fiberglass which acts as a wick. Superposed above fabric layer 38 and disposed in the housing 26 is a compressible layer 40 formed from a foamed plastic or spongelike material, such as polyurethane foam or the like. Overlying layer 40 is a two-ply fabric cover 42 whose construction includes a lower layer of ink absorbent material, such as felt or the like, and an upper layer of a porous fabric, such as woven cotton or the like. A stencil sheet 44 is detachably replaceably held in place over the cover 42 by a suitable self-stick adhesive coating on the undersurface thereof which engages at least part of the flange 36, as best seen in FIG. 3.

The capillary action of wicklike layer 38 regulates the amount of stamping fluid which can be transferred to the entire pad 40 and hence to the stencil sheet 44 through openings 45 therein to a surface 47 by limiting the amount of stamping fluid which can be absorbed by compressible layer 40 and evenly distributing the fluid throughout the pad in an unexpected manner. When the layer 40 is under compression, it will tend to move the cover and the stencil sheet 44 downwardly in the position shown in FIG. 4, and an impression made on the stencil sheet can be transferred to any suitable surface.

The applicator further includes a valve member 46, which has a valve head 48 which is outwardly curved and flared and so arranged that the peripheral edge 50 is adapted to engage the valve seat 34 to form a tight fluid seal. The valve head 48 includes an integral plate 52 which is integrally interconnected with the ring 54 by means of a plurality of flexible resilient helical springs 56 integrally molded as a part of the valve member 46. The springs 56 are under continuous tension thus urging the valve head 48 continuously toward engagement with the valve seat 34. The ring 54 sits in a shoulder 58 formed in the lower end of the body 30.

The valve member 46 cannot fall free of the applicator during assembly because the valve head 48 is flared outwardly by use of a tool provided with a conical head. The tool is preferably heated and when applied causes the valve head to achieve the flared shape as shown in FIG. 2. The pad 40 is fixedly secured in the housing 26.

Referring now to the modified form of the invention shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, integral with web 60 is a retaining ring which includes an outer flange 62 as well as an inner flange 64 concentric with outer flange 62. Disposed over web 60 is a wicklike layer 66, if such is desired, described hereinabove, and a compressible layer or pad 68. Stencil sheet is held lockingly in place by a cover 72 having a downwardly extending flange 74 which is wedged between flanges 62 and 64 of the applicator. When the container is squeezed inwardly in the direction of arrows 76, an impression made on the stencil is transferred to a surface in the manner described above.

FIG. 8 illustrates an alternative form of the invention. Web 78 is tapered inwardly and upwardly to accommodate a valve head 66 which tapers in the same direction from plate 82 to its proximate midpoint. The upper portion 83 of valve head 80 extends through opening 84 and is in direct contact with a compressible pad 86 which together with stencil sheet 87 protrudes above the level of cap 88. When the stamping device of FIG. 8 is in direct contact with a surface to be printed, the pressure applied against stencil sheet 87 compresses pads 86 and displaces the upper portion 83 of the valve head from its normal position and permits stamping fluid to flow into the pad 86 and then to the surface being stamped.

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict other embodiments of this invention. For example the wick 90 of the container and the web 92 of the applicator might both be square rather than cylindrical in shape. It is also contemplated to attach the stencil sheet 94 to inner flange 96 by means of clips 98.

The invention also provides a cap 100 which snap flts over the upper portion of the stamping device with the aid of lugs 102-to prevent evaporation of the stamping fluid, to protect the stencil sheet and to prevent undesirable contact of the stencil sheet with surfaces.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein.

lclaim:

l. A stamping device comprising a container having a neck portion, stamping fluid in said container, a body received in said neck portion and having a web provided with a valve opening therethrough, a valve member disposed in said opening and engageable with said web for closing said opening, a housing secured to said body outwardly of said container, said housing having a base forming an extension of said web and a peripheral flange, a resilient fluid reservoir pad in said housing, stencil means disposed on said pad, the peripheral edge of said stencil means engaging and being adhesively secured to said flange, and wick means in said housing overlying said opening and disposed between said web and said pad.

2. A stamping device according to claim 1, wherein said opening is tapered forming a valve seat, said valve member including spring means below said web and integral with said valve head drawing said valve head into resilient engagement with said valve seat, said spring means including a plurality-of spaced helical spring members under tension.

3. A stamping device according to claim 2, wherein said container is squeezable so that upon application of pressure to said container fluid pressure exerted against said valve member displaces said valve head from its normal position with respect to said valve seat for permitting stamping fluid to flow from said container through said wick means to said fluid reservoir pad in said housing. 

1. A stamping device comprising a container having a neck portion, stamping fluid in said container, a body received in said neck portion and having a web provided with a valve opening therethrough, a valve member disposed in said opening and engageable with said web for closing said opening, a housing secured to said body outwardly of said container, said housing having a base forming an extension of said web and a peripheral flange, a resilient fluid reservoir pad in said housing, stencil means disposed on said pad, the peripheral edge of said stencil means engaging and being adhesively secured to said flange, and wick means in said housing overlying said opening and disposed between said web and said pad.
 2. A stamping device according to claim 1, wherein said opening is tapered forming a valve seat, said valve member including spring means below said web and integral with said valve head drawing said valve head into resilient engagement with said valve seat, said spring means including a plurality of spaced helical spring members under tension.
 3. A stamping device according to claim 2, wherein said container is squeezable so thAt upon application of pressure to said container fluid pressure exerted against said valve member displaces said valve head from its normal position with respect to said valve seat for permitting stamping fluid to flow from said container through said wick means to said fluid reservoir pad in said housing. 